Ralph Siraco’s notes

Tuesday, April 25, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

The 1999/2000 winter/spring Santa Anita racing season came to a close on Monday as the Arcadia, Calif., track completed its first full meeting under the guidance of new owner Magna Entertainment, Inc.

The Deputy, the Irish-bred who captured the 63rd Santa Anita Derby on April 8, 10 weeks after winning the Santa Catalina Stakes in his first race on dirt, was selected by media members as Horse of the Meet.

Voting for the title was close as The Deputy 'photo-finished' Santa Anita Handicap winner General Challenge by just two ballots. Fusaichi Pegasus finished third in the voting. General Challenge, who also won the Strub Stakes, was, however, a near-unanimous choice for Older Horse Of The Meet.

The Deputy, a European-import, won three of four starts at the meeting and is owned by Team Valor and Gary Barber. His only loss came in the San Felipe Stakes to Kentucky Derby favorite Fusaichi Pegasus. However, his tenacious victory in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby distinguished Jenine Sahadi as the first female trainer to win that Southern California sophomore classic. Sahadi can add a Kentucky Derby first for lady trainers if she can pull off the victory in Louisville to add to a pair of Breeders' Cup wins.

The Santa Anita Derby that saw The Deputy lead War Chant by a length and Captain Steve by three was chosen the Race Of The Meet and the combined accomplishments of The Deputy and Sahadi were recognized as the Achievement Of The Meet as well. Hence, The Deputy was also named 3-year-old of the meet.

Bob Baffert won his fourth consecutive training title with 40 victories while Corey Nakatani took his second Santa Anita riding title with 82 wins after winning previously in 1995-96.

Baffert, who bested second-placed Bill Spawr by 11 wins, also captured the most stakes victories of the meet with eight added money wins. Bobby Frankel finished third in the standings with 25 wins, R.B. Hess, Jr. fourth with 23 and Vladimir Cerin fifth with 22.

Nakatani finished up the season on a hot streak as he won a pair of races on closing day following a six-bagger on Sunday. He became the eighth jockey in Santa Anita history, and the first since Martin Pedroza in 1992, to ride six winners on a single program.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux checked in second with 71 wins as Victor Espinoza had his best Southern California season while third with 62 victories.

Racing's living legend, Laffit Pincay, Jr., who had won the Hollywood Park fall meet title, was fourth in the final standings with 59 wins. The world's winningest jockey reached victory plateau number 8,900 at Emerald Downs in Washington State last week.

Last year's Santa Anita titleholder, David Flores, finished fifth this year with 52 wins. Top Apprentice title went to rider Victor Diaz who rode 11 winners during the stand.

Surfside, who won three stakes including a pair of Grade I events at the meet, was the only unanimous choice in the voting when selected the outstanding 3-year-old filly of the meet. Santa Ana Handicap winner Manistique was named top older filly or mare.

Other honors went to Dark Moondancer as male turf horse, Caffe Latte as best female turf performer and Kona Gold as best sprinter of the session. Dixie Loe was voted the meeting's most accomplished claimer after her four successive victories for two different trainers during the meet.

Racing on the Southern California circuit will resume on Friday with the opening of the Hollywood Park spring/summer meet. The curtain-raising card will be a night program and has a first post time at 7.